No official summary available for this bill.
[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 3856 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 3856
To reauthorize the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act, and for other
purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
June 10, 2025
Ms. Bonamici (for herself, Mr. Bacon, Mr. McGarvey, Ms. Houlahan, Ms.
Norton, Mr. Costa, Mr. Khanna, Ms. Barragan, Mrs. Dingell, Mr. Lieu,
and Mr. Nunn of Iowa) introduced the following bill; which was referred
to the Committee on Education and Workforce
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To reauthorize the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act, and for other
purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Runaway and Homeless Youth and
Trafficking Prevention Act of 2025''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Section 302 of the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act (34 U.S.C. 11201)
is amended to read as follows:
``SEC. 302. FINDINGS.
``Congress finds that--
``(1) youth who have become homeless or who leave and
remain away from home without parental permission are at risk
of developing, and have a disproportionate share of, trauma,
substance use disorders, and serious health, behavioral,
social, and emotional challenges because they lack sufficient
resources to obtain care and may live on the street for
extended periods of time, thereby endangering themselves;
``(2) many such young people, because of their age and
situation, are urgently in need of temporary shelter and
services, including services that consider their age, gender,
and social and developmental needs, are culturally and
linguistically appropriate, and acknowledge the environment of
youth seeking these services;
``(3) research has documented the fluid experiences of
homelessness of youth, where many youth experience 2 or more
different types of homelessness, including couch surfing,
living in motels, and staying on the streets;
``(4) research has documented that persons who are members
of historically marginalized and underserved communities of
color, LGBTQ youth, youth who do not complete high school or
achieve a high school equivalency, youth involved in the child
welfare system, youth who have been involved with the criminal
justice system, and pregnant and parenting youth are most
likely to experience homelessness in the United States while
unaccompanied by a parent or adult;
``(5) services to such young people should be developed and
provided using a positive youth development approach that
ensures a young person a sense of--
``(A) safety and structure;
``(B) belonging and membership;
``(C) self-worth, empowerment, voice, and choice;
``(D) independence and control over one's life; and
``(E) closeness in interpersonal relationships;
``(6) in view of the interstate nature of the problem, it
is the responsibility of the Federal Government to develop an
accurate national reporting system to report the prevalence of
youth homelessness, and to assist in the development of an
effective system of care (including prevention services and
aftercare services, short-term housing with services, extended
housing with supportive services, and street outreach services)
outside the welfare system and the law enforcement system, in
collaboration with public assistance systems, the education
system, and the child welfare system;
``(7) to make a successful transition to adulthood, youth
who run away, youth experiencing homelessness, and youth living
in the street need a safe and stable place to live, connections
to caring adults, and opportunities to complete high school or
earn a general equivalency degree, learn job skills, and obtain
employment;
``(8) improved coordination and collaboration at the
Federal level between programs that serve runaway and homeless
youth are necessary for the development of a long-term strategy
for responding to the needs of this population;
``(9) runaway and homeless youth are at a high risk of
substance use disorders and becoming victims of sexual
exploitation and trafficking;
``(10) since research has shown that the prevalence of
homelessness among youth is similar in rural and urban
communities, runaway and homeless youth programs, such as those
funded under this title, are integral services that every
community should provide, regardless of the size of the
community; and
``(11) runaway and homeless youth programs, such as those
funded under this title--
``(A) are expert adolescent service providers and
integral community partners for the child welfare and
juvenile justice systems as many youth exit these
systems to homelessness; and
``(B) work to reunify youth with their family when
safe and appropriate.''.
SEC. 3. BASIC CENTER GRANT PROGRAM.
Part A of the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act (34 U.S.C. 11211 et
seq.) is amended--
(1) in section 311, by striking subsection (a) and
inserting the following:
``(a) Grants for Centers and Services.--
``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall--
``(A) not later than 90 days before the start date
of the grant, award 5-year grants to public and
nonprofit private entities, and combinations of such
entities, to establish, operate, and maintain
(including renovate) local centers to provide--
``(i) safe shelter and services for runaway
and homeless youth, including trauma-informed
services; and
``(ii) if appropriate, services for the
families of such youth, including individuals
identified by such youth as family; and
``(B) establish an appeal process for grantees.
``(2) Services provided.--Services provided under paragraph
(1)--
``(A) shall be provided to runaway youth, street
youth, homeless youth, or youth at risk of separation
from the family;
``(B) shall include--
``(i) safe and appropriate shelter for not
more than 30 days or the maximum allowed by the
State, whichever is greater;
``(ii) individual, family, or group
counseling, as appropriate, including
counseling for individuals identified by such
youth as family, that considers the age,
gender, and social and developmental needs of
such youth, and is culturally and
linguistically appropriate; and
``(iii) suicide prevention services; and
``(C) may include--
``(i) street-based services;
``(ii) home-based services for families
with youth at risk of separation from the
family, to the extent practicable, that
consider the ages, genders, and social and
developmental needs of the family, and are
culturally and linguistically appropriate;
``(iii) prevention services;
``(iv) substance use disorder education and
prevention services;
``(v) at the request of runaway youth or
homeless youth, testing for sexually
transmitted infections;
``(vi) trauma-informed services, including
for such youth who are victims of trafficking;
and
``(vii) an assessment of--
``(I) family engagement in support
and reunification, if reunification is
appropriate;
``(II) interventions; and
``(III) services for parents or
legal guardians of such youth or, if
appropriate, individuals identified by
such youth as family.'';
(2) in section 312--
(A) in subsection (b)--
(i) by striking paragraph (2) and inserting
the following:
``(2) shall use such assistance to establish, strengthen,
or fund a runaway and homeless youth center that provides
temporary shelter or a locally controlled project, including a
host family home, that has--
``(A) a minimum capacity of not less than 4 youth,
except if there is an established minimum number of
beds per youth shelter or project location;
``(B) a maximum capacity of not more than 20 youth,
except where the applicant demonstrates that the State
where the center or locally controlled project is
located has a State or local law or regulation that
allows a higher maximum to comply with licensure
requirements for child and youth serving centers or
projects;
``(C) a ratio of staff to youth that is sufficient
to ensure adequate supervision and treatment; and
``(D) if it is a mixed project, not more than 20
youth per project, except where the applicant
demonstrates that the project has a State or local law
or regulation that allows a higher maximum to comply
with licensure requirements for child and youth serving
projects;'';
(ii) in paragraph (5), by striking ``or
legal guardians'' and inserting ``, legal
guardians, or individuals identified by such
youth as family, if appropriate,'';
(iii) by striking paragraphs (6), (7), and
(8), and inserting the following:
``(6) shall develop an adequate plan, which may include the
use of online resources to reach and engage youth, for
establishing or coordinating with outreach programs designed to
attract persons, including persons who are members of
underserved populations, who are eligible to receive services
for which a grant under section 311(a) may be expended;
``(7) shall keep adequate statistical records profiling the
runaway youth or homeless youth and family members of such
youth whom the applicant serves, including demographic
information and the number of such youth who--
``(A) are not referred to out-of-home shelter
services;
``(B) are members of vulnerable or underserved
populations;
``(C) are victims of trafficking;
``(D) are pregnant or parenting;
``(E) have been involved in the child welfare
system; and
``(F) have been involved in the juvenile justice
system;
``(8) shall ensure that--
``(A) the information maintained on individual
runaway youth or homeless youth contained in the
records described in paragraph (7) shall not be
disclosed without the consent of the individual youth
and the parent of the youth, the legal guardian of the
youth, or an individual identified by such youth as
family, to anyone other than an agency compiling
statistical records or a government agency involved in
the disposition of criminal charges against such youth;
and
``(B) reports or other documents based on the
statistics described in paragraph (7) shall not
disclose the identity of any individual runaway youth
or homeless youth;'';
(iv) in paragraph (12), by striking
subparagraphs (B) and (C) and inserting the
following:
``(B) detailed information on how the applicant has
been able to meet the goals of the plan of the
applicant; and
``(C) statistical summaries describing--
``(i) the data the Secretary requires to be
collected;
``(ii) the number and characteristics of
runaway youth, homeless youth, street youth,
and youth at risk of separation from the
family, who participate in the project,
including information on such youth who--
``(I) are victims of trafficking;
``(II) are pregnant or parenting;
``(III) have been involved in the
child welfare system; or
``(IV) have been involved with the
criminal justice system; and
``(iii) the services provided to such youth
by the project;'';
(v) in paragraph (13), by striking the
period at the end and inserting ``for natural
disasters, inclement weather, and public health
emergencies;''; and
(vi) by adding at the end the following:
``(14) shall provide services to runaway youth and homeless
youth that consider the age, gender, and social and
developmental needs of such youth, and are culturally and
linguistically appropriate, to the extent practicable; and
``(15) shall inform youth of their status as independent
students under section 480 of the Higher Education Act of 1965
(20 U.S.C. 1087vv), provide verification of such status for the
purposes of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid
described in section 483 of the Higher Education Act of 1965
(20 U.S.C. 1090), and assist youth in completing this
application at the request of the youth.'';
(B) in subsection (c)--
(i) in paragraph (3), by striking ``and''
after the semicolon;
(ii) in paragraph (4), by striking the
period at the end and inserting ``; and''; and
(iii) by adding at end the following:
``(5) develop a plan, consistent with local needs, for the
use of online resources, if appropriate, to reach and engage
youth.'';
(C) in subsection (d)--
(i) by striking paragraph (1) and inserting
the following:
``(1) provide counseling and information that consider the
age, gender, and social and developmental needs of such youth,
and are culturally and linguistically appropriate, to the
extent practicable, to youth and the families of such youth
(including unrelated individuals in the family households of
such youth and individuals identified by such youth as family),
including services relating to basic life skills, interpersonal
skill building, educational advancement, job attainment skills,
mental and physical health care, suicide prevention, parenting
skills, financial planning, and referral to sources of other
needed services;'';
(ii) in paragraph (4), by inserting ``,
including training on trauma-informed care''
before the semicolon at the end; and
(iii) in paragraph (5)--
(I) in subparagraph (A), by
striking ``and'' after the semicolon;
(II) in subparagraph (B), by
striking the period at the end and
inserting ``; and''; and
(III) by adding at the end the
following:
``(C) youth are eligible for home-based services
when determined by the applicant to be at risk of
separation from family.'';
(D) in subsection (e), by striking the subsection
enumerator and all that follows through ``(b)--'' and
inserting the following:
``(e) Applicants Providing Substance Use Disorder Education and
Prevention Services.--To be eligible to use assistance under section
311(a) to provide substance use disorder education and prevention
services, an applicant shall include in the plan required by subsection
(b)--''; and
(E) by adding at the end the following:
``(f) Online Resources for Outreach.--An applicant may develop a
plan, consistent with local needs, for the use of online resources to
reach and engage youth.
``(g) Definition of Underserved Populations.--In this section, the
term `underserved populations' means victims of homelessness or
trafficking or runaway youth, who disproportionately face barriers in
accessing and using victim services, including populations who are
underserved due to limited English proficiency or are historically
marginalized and underserved communities of color, and any other
population determined to be underserved by the Secretary of Health and
Human Services.''; and
(3) in section 313, by striking subsection (b) and
inserting the following:
``(b) Priority.--In selecting applications for grants under section
311(a), the Secretary shall give priority to eligible applicants who
have demonstrated experience in providing services to runaway youth and
homeless youth.''.
SEC. 4. TRANSITIONAL LIVING GRANT PROGRAM.
Part B of the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act (34 U.S.C. 11221 et
seq.) is amended--
(1) in section 321--
(A) by inserting ``5-year'' after ``to make''; and
(B) by inserting ``and runaway youth. The Secretary
shall award such grants not later than 90 days before
the start date of the grant and establish an appeal
process for grantees'' after ``homeless youth''; and
(2) in section 322--
(A) in subsection (a)--
(i) by striking paragraph (1) and inserting
the following:
``(1) to provide to homeless youth, by grant, agreement, or
contract--
``(A) shelter, such as group homes, maternity group
homes, host family homes, and supervised apartments;
and
``(B) services, such as information and counseling
services in basic life skills, which consider the age,
gender, and social and developmental needs of such
youth, and are culturally and linguistically
appropriate, including topics on money management,
budgeting, consumer education, use of credit, parenting
skills, interpersonal skill building, educational
advancement, job attainment skills, mental and physical
health care, and suicide prevention services;'';
(ii) in paragraph (2), by inserting ``and
runaway'' after ``to provide such shelter and
such services to individual homeless'';
(iii) by striking paragraph (4) and
inserting the following:
``(4) that such shelter project used to carry out such
project shall--
``(A) have a minimum project capacity of not fewer
than 4 youth, except if there is an established minimum
number of beds per individual shelter or project
location;
``(B) have the capacity to accommodate not more
than 20 individuals, excluding staff, within a single
project, except where the applicant demonstrates that
the State where the project is located has a State or
local law or regulation that allows a higher maximum to
comply with licensure requirements for child and youth
serving projects; and
``(C) if it is a mixed project, limit runaway and
homeless youth shelter beds to 20 youth per project
with segregated access and programming, except where
the applicant demonstrates that the State where the
project is located has a State or local law or
regulation that allows a higher maximum to comply with
licensure requirements for child and youth serving
projects;'';
(iv) by striking paragraphs (6), (7), (8),
and (9), and inserting the following:
``(6) to develop a written transitional living plan in
partnership with each youth based on an assessment of the needs
of each youth, designed to help the transition from supervised
participation in such project to independent living or another
appropriate living arrangement;
``(7) to develop an adequate plan to ensure proper
coordination, integration, and referral of homeless youth and
runaway youth, which considers the age, gender, and social and
developmental needs of such youth, and are culturally and
linguistically appropriate, to the extent practicable, to--
``(A) social service;
``(B) law enforcement;
``(C) educational training, including postsecondary
education;
``(D) vocational training, including services and
programs for youth available under the Workforce
Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3101 et
seq.);
``(E) welfare, including programs amended under the
Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity
Reconciliation Act of 1996 (Public Law 104-193);
``(F) legal service;
``(G) mental health service and health care
programs;
``(H) substance use disorder treatment; and
``(I) programs providing wrap-around services to
victims of trafficking and gender-based violence;
``(8) to provide for the establishment of outreach programs
designed to attract individuals who are eligible to participate
in the project, which may include the use of online and social
media engagements;
``(9) to submit to the Secretary an annual report that
includes information regarding the activities carried out with
funds under this part, the achievements of the project under
this part carried out by the applicant and statistical
summaries describing the number, characteristics, and
demographic information of the homeless youth and runaway youth
who participate in such project, including the prevalence of
trafficking of such youth, and the services provided to such
youth by such project, in the year for which the report is
submitted;'';
(v) in paragraph (15), by striking ``and''
after the semicolon;
(vi) by striking paragraph (16) and
inserting the following:
``(16) to develop an adequate emergency preparedness and
management plan regarding responses to natural disasters,
inclement weather, and mental health emergencies; and'';
(vii) by redesignating paragraphs (3)
through (5) and (6) through (16), as paragraphs
(5) through (7) and (9) through (19),
respectively;
(viii) by inserting after paragraph (2) the
following:
``(3) to provide counseling to homeless and runaway youth
and to encourage, if appropriate, the involvement in such
counseling of their parents, legal guardians, or individuals
identified by such youth as family;
``(4) to provide aftercare services, if possible, to
homeless and runaway youth who have received shelter and
services from a transitional living youth project, including,
to the extent practicable, such youth who, after receiving such
shelter and services, relocate to a geographic area or State
other than the geographic area or State in which such project
is located;'';
(ix) by inserting after paragraph (7), as
redesignated by clause (vii), the following:
``(8) to develop a plan to provide services, which consider
the age, gender, and social and developmental needs of such
youth, and are culturally and linguistically appropriate, that
address the needs of runaway, homeless, and street youth;'';
(x) by adding at end the following:
``(20) to inform youth of their status as independent
students under section 480 of the Higher Education Act of 1965
(20 U.S.C. 1087vv), provide verification of such status for the
purposes of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid
described in section 483 of the Higher Education Act of 1965
(20 U.S.C. 1090), and assist the youth in completing this
application at the request of the youth.'';
(B) by striking subsection (b) and inserting the
following:
``(b) Priority.--In selecting eligible applicants to receive grants
under this part, the Secretary shall give priority to entities that
have experience in providing to homeless youth shelter and services of
the types described in subsection (a)(1).''; and
(C) by adding at the end the following:
``(d) Priority for Homeless Youth Less Than 22 Years of Age.--An
entity that receives a grant under this part--
``(1) shall, in carrying out activities under the grant,
prioritize service to homeless youth who are less than 22 years
of age, but not less than 15 years of age; and
``(2) may use grant funds to serve homeless youth who are
ages 22 to less than 26.''.
SEC. 5. NATIONAL COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM.
Section 331 of the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act (34 U.S.C. 11231)
is amended by inserting ``, online, and social media'' after
``telephone''.
SEC. 6. COORDINATING, TRAINING, RESEARCH, AND OTHER ACTIVITIES.
Part D of the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act (34 U.S.C. 11241 et
seq.) is amended--
(1) in section 341--
(A) by inserting ``safety, well-being,'' after
``health,''; and
(B) in paragraph (2) by striking ``other Federal
entities'' and inserting ``the Department of Housing
and Urban Development, the Department of Education, the
Department of Labor, and the Department of Justice'';
(2) in section 342--
(A) by inserting ``5-year'' after ``make'';
(B) by inserting ``(including onsite and web-based
techniques, such as on-demand and online learning)''
after ``training''; and
(C) by striking ``carrying out'' and inserting
``implementing in a trauma-informed manner'';
(3) in section 343(b)--
(A) in paragraph (5)--
(i) in subparagraph (A), by striking
``abuse'' and all that follows through the
semicolon at the end and inserting ``abuse,
sexual assault, and trafficking;'';
(ii) in subparagraph (B), by striking
``abuse'' and all that follows through ``;
and'' and inserting ``abuse, sexual assault,
and trafficking;'';
(iii) in subparagraph (C), by striking
``who have been sexually victimized''; and
(iv) by adding at end the following:
``(D) best practices for identifying and providing
services that consider the age, gender, and social and
developmental background of an individual, and are
culturally and linguistically appropriate, to the
extent practicable, to--
``(i) vulnerable and underserved youth
populations; and
``(ii) youth who are victims of
trafficking; and
``(E) informing youth of their status as
independent students under section 480 of the Higher
Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1087vv), providing
verification of such status for the purposes of the
Free Application for Federal Student Aid described in
section 483 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20
U.S.C. 1090), and assisting youth in completing this
application at the request of the youth;'';
(B) in paragraph (9), by striking ``and'' after the
semicolon;
(C) in paragraph (10), by striking the period at
the end and inserting ``; and''; and
(D) by adding at end the following:
``(11) examining the intersection between the runaway and
homeless youth populations and trafficking, including noting
whether such youth who are victims of trafficking were
previously involved in the child welfare system or juvenile
justice system.'';
(4) in section 344(a)(2)(A), by striking ``$100,000'' and
inserting ``$200,000''; and
(5) in section 345--
(A) in subsection (a)--
(i) by striking ``Not later than'' and all
that follows through ``Homelessness'' and
inserting ``Not later than 2 years after the
date of enactment of the Runaway and Homeless
Youth and Trafficking Prevention Act of 2025,
and at 3-year intervals thereafter, the
Secretary, acting through the Associate
Commissioner of the Family and Youth Services
Bureau'';
(ii) in paragraph (1)--
(I) by striking ``13'' and
inserting ``12''; and
(II) by striking ``and'' after the
semicolon;
(iii) in paragraph (2), by striking the
period at the end and inserting a semicolon;
and
(iv) by adding at end the following:
``(3) that includes demographic information of such
individuals, including youth who are victims of trafficking;
and
``(4) that does not disclose the identity of any such
individual.''; and
(B) in subsection (b)(1)--
(i) by striking ``13'' and inserting
``12'';
(ii) in subparagraph (A), by striking
``and'' after the semicolon;
(iii) in subparagraph (B)--
(I) in clause (ii), by striking ``;
and'' and inserting ``, including
mental health services;'';
(II) in clause (iii), by striking
``and'' after the semicolon; and
(III) by adding at end the
following:
``(iv) connections to caring adults; and
``(v) access to secondary education, higher
education, and job training; and'';
(iv) by redesignating subparagraph (B) as
subparagraph (E); and
(v) by inserting after subparagraph (A) the
following:
``(B) incidences, if any, of such individuals who--
``(i) are victims of trafficking;
``(ii) are victims of sexual exploitation;
or
``(iii) were involved in the child welfare
or foster care system;
``(C) demographic characteristics, including race,
color, religion, national origin, sex, gender identity
(as defined in section 249(c) of title 18, United
States Code), sexual orientation, and disability;
``(D) statistics on youth who are or were pregnant
or parenting; and''.
SEC. 7. SEXUAL ABUSE AND TRAFFICKING PREVENTION PROGRAM; STREET
OUTREACH PROGRAM.
Part E of the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act (34 U.S.C. 11261 et
seq.) is amended by striking section 351 and inserting the following:
``SEC. 351. AUTHORITY TO MAKE GRANTS.
``(a) In General.--The Secretary shall make 5-year grants to public
and nonprofit private entities, and combinations of such entities, for
the purpose of providing street-based services to runaway, homeless,
and street youth who have been subjected to, or are at risk of being
subjected to, sexual abuse or trafficking. The Secretary shall award
such grants not later than 90 days before the start date of the grant
and establish an appeal process for grantees.
``(b) Priority.--In selecting applicants to receive grants under
subsection (a), the Secretary shall give priority to public and
nonprofit private entities that have experience in providing services
to runaway, homeless, and street youth.
``(c) Eligibility Requirements.--To be eligible to receive a grant
under subsection (a), an applicant shall certify to the Secretary that
such applicant has expertise in serving runaway, homeless, and street
youth and has systems in place to ensure that such applicant can
provide services that consider the age, gender, and social and
developmental background of youth described in subsection (a), and are
culturally and linguistically appropriate.''.
SEC. 8. GENERAL PROVISIONS.
Part F of the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act (34 U.S.C. 11271 et
seq.) is amended--
(1) in the heading, by striking ``part f'' and inserting
``part g'';
(2) in section 381--
(A) in subsection (a)(3), by striking ``facility''
and inserting ``center or project''; and
(B) in subsection (b)(1), by striking ``facility''
both places it appears and inserting ``center or
project'';
(3) in section 382(a)--
(A) by striking ``2000'' and inserting ``2026'';
(B) by striking ``the Workforce'' and inserting
``Workforce'';
(C) in paragraph (1)--
(i) by redesignating subparagraphs (B)
through (D) as subparagraphs (C) through (E),
respectively; and
(ii) by inserting after subparagraph (A)
the following:
``(B) identifying youth who are victims of
trafficking;''; and
(D) in paragraph (2)--
(i) by striking subparagraph (A) and
inserting the following:
``(A) the number and characteristics of youth
served by such projects, including such youth who--
``(i) are victims of trafficking;
``(ii) are pregnant or parenting;
``(iii) have been involved in the child
welfare system; or
``(iv) have been involved in the juvenile
or adult criminal justice system, the
incarceration system, or legal proceedings
related to such systems;''; and
(ii) by striking subparagraph (F) and
inserting the following:
``(F) the ability of such projects to encourage the
resolution of problems within the family, including
with individuals identified by such youth as family,
through counseling and development of self-sufficient
living skills; and'';
(4) in section 383(a) by striking ``facility's budget'' and
inserting ``budget of the center or project'';
(5) in section 384, by adding at the end the following:
``Grantees are encouraged to share data with other programs and
systems, without identifying individual youth in any shared
records, to improve coordination and maximize the use of
resources.'';
(6) by inserting after section 384 the following:
``SEC. 384A. ADMINISTRATION AND ENFORCEMENT.
``(a) In General.--The Secretary, acting through the Associate
Commissioner of the Family and Youth Services Bureau, may waive any
provision under this title for a period of not more than 3 years,
unless an extension is granted under subsection (f), if--
``(1) a potential grantee requests a waiver that describes
1 or more conflicting or duplicative requirements or
circumstances that prevent the effective delivery of services
to runaway and homeless youth, such as an extraordinary
circumstance, natural disaster, public health emergency, or
financial crisis;
``(2) the Secretary determines that the waiver will, by
itself, contribute to or enhance the ability of the grantee to
carry out the purposes of this title; and
``(3) the Secretary determines that the waiver will not be
inconsistent with the objectives of this title.
``(b) Contents.--A request made under subsection (a) shall be
provided to the Secretary in writing and shall--
``(1) detail each provision within this title for which the
grantee seeks relief;
``(2) describe how a waiver from such provision will, by
itself, improve delivery of services to runaway and homeless
youth; and
``(3) certify that the health, safety, and well-being of
runaway and homeless youth served through assistance received
under this title will not be compromised as a result of the
waiver.
``(c) Notification of Approval or Disapproval.--
``(1) In general.--Not later than 30 days after the receipt
of a waiver request made under subsection (a), the Secretary
shall inform the grantee of approval or disapproval of the
request.
``(2) Disapproval.--If the request is disapproved, the
Secretary shall inform the grantee, the Committee on the
Judiciary of the Senate, and the Committee on Education and
Workforce of the House of Representatives of the reasons for
the disapproval and give the grantee the opportunity to amend
the request or appeal the decision.
``(3) Approval.--If the request is approved, the Secretary
shall grant a waiver and, not later than 30 days after granting
such waiver, notify and submit a report to the Committee on the
Judiciary of the Senate, and the Committee on Education and
Workforce of the House of Representatives that describes--
``(A) each specific provision waived;
``(B) the reason given by the grantee for the need
for a waiver; and
``(C) the expected impact of the waiver on youth
served under this program.
``(d) External Conditions.--The Secretary shall not require or
impose any new or additional requirements in exchange for receipt of a
waiver if such requirements are not specified in this title.
``(e) Termination.--The Secretary shall terminate approval of a
request for a waiver authorized under this section if the Secretary
determines, after notice and opportunity for a hearing, that the
performance of a grantee who was granted relief under this section has
been inadequate, or if such relief is no longer necessary to achieve
its original purposes.
``(f) Waiver Extension.--
``(1) In general.--The Secretary may grant an extension to
an existing waiver authorized under this section for a period
of not more than 1 year upon a request for a waiver extension
from the grantee.
``(2) Extension request.--A request for a waiver extension
described under paragraph (1) shall be submitted to the
Secretary not later than 30 days before the expiration date of
the existing waiver, and shall re-certify the provisions in
subsection (b) and explain the need for additional time of
relief from such provisions provided in this title.
``(g) Restrictions.--Nothing in this title shall be construed as
authorizing the Secretary to permit a grantee to alter the eligibility
requirements for eligible youth. Nothing in this section shall be
construed as authorizing the Secretary to waive anything related to the
Secretary's authority under this title.'';
(7) in section 386(a)--
(A) by striking ``3 consecutive'' and inserting ``5
consecutive'' both places it appears;
(B) by inserting ``, acting through the Associate
Commissioner of the Family and Youth Services Bureau,''
after ``Secretary''; and
(C) by inserting `` or virtually when
appropriate,'' after ``on-site,'';
(8) in section 386A--
(A) in subsection (a)--
(i) by striking ``Reconnecting Homeless
Youth Act of 2008'' and inserting ``Runaway and
Homeless Youth and Trafficking Prevention Act
of 2025''; and
(ii) by inserting ``371,'' after
``sections''; and
(B) in subsection (c), by inserting ``371,'' after
``sections'';
(9) by inserting after section 386A the following:
``SEC. 386B. NONDISCRIMINATION.
``(a) In General.--No person in the United States shall be excluded
from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to
discrimination under this title on the basis of actual or perceived
race, color, religion, national origin, sex, gender identity (as
defined in section 249(c) of title 18, United States Code), sexual
orientation, or disability.
``(b) Exception.--If sex-segregation or sex-specific programming is
necessary to the essential operation of a program, nothing in this
section shall prevent any such program or activity from considering the
sex of an individual. In such circumstances, grantees may meet the
requirements of this section by providing comparable services to
individuals who cannot participate in the sex-segregated or sex-
specific programming.
``(c) Disqualification.--The Secretary shall enforce this section
pursuant to section 654 of the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9849). The
provisions of such section relating to the procedure for review of an
action taken by the Secretary shall apply.
``(d) Construction.--Nothing in this section shall be construed as
supplanting, displacing, preempting, or otherwise limiting the
responsibilities and liabilities under other Federal or State civil
rights laws with respect to discrimination on a basis described in
subsection (a).'';
(10) in section 387--
(A) by redesignating paragraphs (1), (4), (5), (6),
(7), and (8), as paragraphs (9), (6), (7), (8), (11),
and (13), respectively;
(B) by inserting before paragraph (2) the
following:
``(1) Culturally and linguistically appropriate.--The term
`culturally and linguistically appropriate', with respect to
services, has the meaning given the term `culturally and
linguistically appropriate services' in the `National Standards
for Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Services in
Health and Health Care', issued in April 2013, by the Office of
Minority Health of the Department of Health and Human
Services.'';
(C) in paragraph (3)(A)--
(i) in clause (i), by striking ``21'' and
inserting ``26''; and
(ii) by striking clause (ii) and inserting
the following:
``(ii) for the purposes of part B, not less
than 15 years of age but less than 26 years of
age, subject to section 322(d);'';
(D) by inserting after paragraph (3) the following:
``(4) Mixed projects.--The term `mixed projects' means a
building, structure, or campus that may house multiple programs
serving youth under the age of 26. Any of these programs may be
funded as authorized under this Act as well as funded by other
entities, including private, public, and other government
funding.
``(5) Prevention services.--The term `prevention services'
means services to prevent youth from becoming runaway,
homeless, or street youth and may include--
``(A) individual, family, group, and peer
counseling;
``(B) family mediation;
``(C) assessing the strengths, vulnerabilities, and
needs of youth;
``(D) connecting youth to public services and
housing options;
``(E) emergency respite care for clients within the
allowable age range of the underlying grant award,
including care that provides parents and other
caregivers with emergency services and temporary
shelter that offer relief;
``(F) connecting youth to education and employment
programs;
``(G) case management and resource navigation; and
``(H) activities to improve access to local mental
health and substance use treatment and prevention.'';
(E) in paragraph (7)(B), as redesignated by
subparagraph (A)--
(i) in clause (i), by inserting ``,
including the use of online methods of
engagement, as appropriate, based on the needs
of the community and population served'' after
``street youth''; and
(ii) by striking clause (v) and inserting
the following:
``(v) advocacy, education, and prevention
services related to--
``(I) substance use disorder;
``(II) trafficking;
``(III) sexually transmitted
infections, including human
immunodeficiency virus;
``(IV) violence, including physical
assault, sexual assault, domestic
violence, and gender-based violence;
and
``(V) suicide.'';
(F) in paragraph (8)(B), as redesignated by
subparagraph (A), by striking ``prostitution, or drug
abuse'' and inserting ``trafficking, or substance use
disorder'';
(G) in paragraph (9), as redesignated by
subparagraph (A), by striking the paragraph (9)
enumerator and all that follows through ``services'--
'', and inserting the following:
``(9) Substance use disorder education and prevention
services.--The term `substance use disorder education and
prevention services'--'';
(H) by inserting after paragraph (9), as
redesignated by subparagraph (A), the following:
``(10) Trafficking.--The term `trafficking' has the meaning
given the terms `severe forms of trafficking in persons' and
`sex trafficking' in section 103 of the Trafficking Victims
Protection Act of 2000 (22 U.S.C. 7102).'';
(I) in paragraph (11), as redesignated by
subparagraph (A), by inserting ``, to establish family
or community supports,'' after ``self-sufficient
living'';
(J) by inserting after paragraph (11), as
redesignated by subparagraph (A), the following:
``(12) Trauma-informed.--The term `trauma-informed' has the
meaning given the term in section 103 of the Juvenile Justice
and Delinquency Prevention Act of 1974 (34 U.S.C. 11103).'';
and
(K) in paragraph (13)(B), as redesignated by
subparagraph (A)--
(i) in clause (ii)--
(I) by inserting ``or able'' after
``willing''; and
(II) by striking ``or'' after the
semicolon;
(ii) in clause (iii), by striking the
period at the end and inserting ``; or''; and
(iii) by adding at end the following:
``(iv) who is involved in the child welfare
system, juvenile justice system, or criminal
justice system, but who is not being housed by
any such system.''.
SEC. 9. PREVENTION SERVICES.
The Runaway and Homeless Youth Act (34 U.S.C. 11201 et seq.) is
amended by inserting after part E the following:
``PART F--PREVENTION SERVICES
``SEC. 371. AUTHORITY TO MAKE GRANTS.
``(a) In General.--The Secretary is authorized to make 5-year
grants to an eligible entity, as described under subsection (c), that
applies for an optional, additional prevention services grant. Any
funds provided under this part are in addition to other funds grantees
receive under other parts in this title.
``(b) Priority.--In selecting grantees to receive grants under
subsection (a), the Secretary shall give priority to eligible entities
that are--
``(1) public entities and nonprofit, private entities that
have experience in providing services to runaway, homeless, and
street youth, and youth at risk of separation from the family;
and
``(2) public entities and nonprofit, private entities that
request prevention services grants of not more than $75,000 per
year.
``(c) Eligibility Requirements.--To be eligible to receive a grant
under subsection (a)--
``(1) the potential grantee shall--
``(A) be a successful basic center program or
transitional living program, which may include a
program that operates a maternity group home, that
wants to establish, strengthen, or provide prevention
services for youth at risk of homelessness and youth at
risk of running away; and
``(B) submit to the Secretary a plan agreeing, as
part of such program, to provide prevention services;
and
``(2) the potential grantee shall certify to the Secretary
that such grantee has systems in place to provide services to
youth described in subsection (a) that consider the age,
gender, and social and developmental background of such youth,
and are culturally and linguistically appropriate.''.
SEC. 10. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
Section 388(a) of the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act (34 U.S.C.
11280(a)) is amended to read as follows:
``(a) In General.--
``(1) Authorization.--There are authorized to be
appropriated to carry out this title (other than parts E and F)
$200,000,000 for fiscal year 2026, and such sums as may be
necessary for each of fiscal years 2027 through 2030.
``(2) Allocation.--
``(A) Parts a and b.--From the amount appropriated
under paragraph (1) for a fiscal year, the Secretary
shall reserve not less than 90 percent to carry out
parts A and B.
``(B) Part b.--Of the amount reserved under
subparagraph (A), 45 percent and, in those fiscal years
in which continuation grant obligations and the quality
and number of applicants for parts A and B warrant not
more than 55 percent, shall be reserved to carry out
part B.
``(3) Parts c and d.--
``(A) In general.--In each fiscal year, after
reserving the amounts required by paragraph (2), the
Secretary shall use the remaining amount (if any) to
carry out parts C and D (other than section 345).
``(B) Periodic estimate.--Of the amount authorized
to be appropriated under paragraph (1), $2,000,000
shall be made available to carry out section 345 for
each of fiscal years 2025, 2028, and 2030.
``(4) Part e.--There are authorized to be appropriated to
carry out part E $50,000,000 for fiscal year 2026, and such
sums as may be necessary for each of fiscal years 2027 through
2030.
``(5) Part f.--There are authorized to be appropriated to
carry out part F $67,500,000 for fiscal year 2026, and such
sums as may be necessary for each of fiscal years 2027 through
2030.''.
SEC. 11. APPROVAL OF APPLICATION.
The Runaway and Homeless Youth Act (34 U.S.C. 11201 et seq.) is
amended by adding at end the following:
``SEC. 390. APPROVAL OF APPLICATIONS.
``(a) In General.--An application by a public or private nonprofit
entity for a grant under section 311, 321, or 351, may be approved by
the Secretary for an amount for a fiscal year that is--
``(1) not less than $225,000 and not more than $275,000 if
the amount appropriated to carry out this title (other than
parts E and F) for the fiscal year is equal to or greater than
$200,000,000; or
``(2) not less than $200,000 and not more than $250,000 if
the amount appropriated to carry out this title (other than
parts E and F) for the fiscal year is less than $200,000,000.
``(b) Priority.--In selecting applications for grants under
sections 311, 321, and 351, the Secretary shall give priority to
eligible grantees who have demonstrated experience in providing
services to runaway and homeless youth.''.
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.
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